Now, the Catholics and some Protestants would have us believe that, since the ultimate aim of sexual intercourse is reproduction, then anything that prevents that would be sinful.
But the Scriptures indicate otherwise. In Genesis 2:24, it states "For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." For what cause? It is integral to the relationship between man and wife.
Now, if we look in I Corinthians 7, we see marriage encouraged to prevent sexual immorality ("But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.") And the sexual act is commanded to Christian couples ("The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.... Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.")
The Catholic is forced to tell married couples unwilling for financial or other reasons not to bear children to completely abstain. But that is unbiblical -- the act is even commanded of married couples lest they stumble into sexual immorality.
I'm just considering the irony -- a single guy writing to a grandmother about Christian sexuality.
LOL.....
I do not think sex's sole purpose is procreation...I do not think that is RC teaching eithor , or else all observant Catholics over child bearing age..or those that are unable to have kids for medical reasons would be celebate.....(not on a bet:>)
God made sex fun.. (yea from a Christian grandma) He gave it so that a man and woman could comfort and pleasure each other in times of joy and sadness.
I have told my kids that the best reason to remain pure till you marry is the excitement and joy of new sex is a gift from God to help newly weds bond and compromise and resolve the blending ot two different families and traditions
A fight over a mother in law can be lovingly resolved in each others arms..
If that "newness" has been used up the transition is more difficult
But having said that sex is for love and for consolation and for bonding it is still the ONLY way a child is naturally concieved.
God's design and purpose is 1st and formost procreation. To frustrate THAT purpose is to frustrate the plan of God IMHO...and CAN (not necessarily) reduce sex to a time of self pleasure..
My daughter and her husband have 3 daughters 7,5,3...and they have never used an artifical method....she nursed (a good natural method early on) and they are simply calandar aware
They do not want more children nor do the "plan" more..BUT if God so desires they will let Him be God
I would add this tale of caution....My son and his wife also never used any artifical methods...when a 4th unexpected pregnacy occurred several years after their last they decided to have her tubes tied.
We had a long discussion on it and I gave my best advise to them . It is what what I have told all my kids. None of us know what the future holds....that is a decision that you may later regret>
That baby was Nathan that drown at 17 months.....my beautiful Christian daughter in law cries over that decision now as her arms are empty and the hope of another child has been removed
Sex is a wonderful gift....the best part is opening the package and finding that God has used you for HIS purpose as a co creator with him.....
Grandma:>)